THE ATENEO Blue Eagles continued their University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season, but were stunned by 7th place University of the East (UE), 2-1, on Thursday, April 6, at the Moro Lorenzo Field in Ateneo de Manila University.
Two first half goals from the Red Warriors were enough to hand UE the win, with Ateneo only managing to score one goal in the second half of the game. The result ends Ateneo’s season-long undefeated streak, with University of the Philippines (UP) now challenging at the top of the table.
University of the East looked brighter as first half opened, scoring in the 5th minute through an outside-of-the-box strike from Red Warrior Lerion. Ateneo looked to respond quickly as they piled pressure on their opponents with Castillo and Gayoso creating a number of good chances, but they could not get past a resolute UE defense. In the 19th minute, UE claimed their second goal through Diano after the Blue Eagles were caught out on the break. This prompted a tactical change from Blue and Whites coach Jay Pee Merida, who substituted Castillo and Tanchuan for Herrera and Poe.
The minutes leading up to half time saw a number of teasing crosses into the UE box via Ateneo’s main goalscorer, Jarvey Gayoso. However, no one could get the proper connection. By the half time mark, the Blue Eagles continued to trail the Red Warriors, 2-0. The second half saw more of the same performance from Ateneo who looked to fight back from the two-goal deficit with Jarvis particularly rampant on right wing.
Pressure on the UE box eventually resulted in a penalty being given in favor of Ateneo for a handball within the box. Team Captain Liay managed to slot home calmly for the Blue and White to halve UE’s lead with half an hour to play. Though Ateneo created a number of chances in and around the opposition box with a glorious Jarvis running the biggest opportunity of the lot, Ateneo failed to find the equalizer even with the five-minute stoppage time.
To further augment Ateneo’s misfortune, the Blue Eagles will be forced to face-off against rivals De La Salle University (DLSU) without Gayoso, who received two yellow cards and was sent off late into the second half.
On the topic of looking forward, Coach Merida said that the game against DLSU is a very crucial game with Ateneo looking to get nothing but the three points. “We need to be ready, we need to bounce back. We’re not yet secured for the number one spot, so we need [the three points].”
The Blue Eagles will face De La Salle University on Sunday, April 9, at Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, as they look to get back to winning ways.
UE Red Warriors send Blue Eagles’ their biggest upset of the season, dominating them 2-1.
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